The Host
Character Analysis

The Host at the Tabard Inn, Harry Bailly, is a jolly, lively tavern-keeper. He establishes the main frame narrative of the Tales, since he is the one who proposes the tale-telling game and sets the rules that it will follow. The Host joins the pilgrimage not as a figure seeking religious guidance but as guide and judge to the game. The Host’s presence demonstrate that the main purpose of this pilgrimage lies not so much in the devout religious act but in the fun that these tourists will have along the way.

The Host Quotes in The Canterbury Tales

The The Canterbury Tales quotes below are all either spoken by The Host or refer to The Host. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

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The Pardoner’s Tale
Quotes

“Now,” quod oure Hoost, “I wol no lenger pleye With thee, ne with noon oother angry man.” But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan, Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough, “Namoore of this, for it is right ynough!”